An emotional Jimmy Kimmel made his return to the late-night stage, speaking publicly for the first time about his recent six-day suspension from ABC.

Kimmel opened his show with clips featuring various news reactions to his suspension, with one anchor calling the night “one of the most pivotal moments in broadcast history”. Kimmel and his sidekick, Guillerni Rodriguez appeared on stage dressed as a tiger and a banana, leading Kimmel to quip, “We should probably change”.

The audience welcomed Kimmel with enthusiastic applause and he humorously remarked, “I’m not sure who had a weirder 48 hours, me or the CEO of Tylenol”.

He expressed gratitude to industry allies who supported him during suspension including Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Conan O’Brien and even some right wing voices like Ben Shapiro and Mitch McConnell.

Kimmel addressed the controversy surrounding his comments on the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, emotionally stating, “It was never my intension to make light of the murder of a young man”.

He clarified that he sought compassion for Kirk’s family and emphasised that the actions of the murderer did not represent any group.

He underscored the importance of free speech, saying, “Freedom of speech is something I took for until they pulled my friend Stephen Colbert off the air”. Kimmel criticised attempts to silence late-night hosts, stating that such actions are “not legal” and “un-American”.

The host didn’t shy away from addressing Donald Trump, referencing the president’s criticism of him.

Kimmel quipped, “Well, I do tonight!” as his audience cheered. He expressed gratitude to ABC for reinstating him, acknowledging the risks of network faces political pressures. Kimmel also praised Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk for her act of forgiveness towards her husband’s killer, calling it a “selfless act of grace”. He encouraged viewers to take inspiration from her example.

The FCC’s involvement in Kimmel’s suspension was a focal point of discussion, with Kimmel and writer Louis Virtel commenting on the implications for free speech and the media. The incident sparked protests and backlash from both politicians and the public highlighting concerns over the First Amendment.

Despite ABC’s decision to bring Kimmel back some ABC affiliates including Nexstar and Sinclair continued to preempt his show. Kimmel addressed these actions directly criticising FCC Chairman Brendan Carr for perceived threats against broadcasters who aired his comments.

As Kimmel’s show resumed, he made it clear that the fight for free speech and the right to express differing opinions remains crucial in today’s political climate.